Evergreen Martin to the fore
Murray Martin came out on top at this year’s Spicers AdviceFirst Masters held at the Fitzroy and New Plymouth Golf Club last weekend. Martin shot a two over 70 on the Saturday at Fitzroy and followed it up with a two over par 74 at his home course on the Sunday to finish three strokes ahead of Manawatu representative Rhys Watkin (73-74-147) with last year’s winner Colin Heyes (73-77-150) third.
Played in steady rain on Saturday and a blustery southerly wind on Sunday, scoring conditions were very testing and scores on both days reflected it.
A number of late withdrawals left a somewhat disappointing field of 61, although a field of 11 ladies was the best the masters had attracted in a good number of years.
The Te Ngutu pair of Debbie McCallum and Kaye-Marie Mihaljevich took out the top honours in the ladies section with McCallum winning the gross (81-83-164) and Mihaljevich (87-14-73: 85-16-69-142) winning the net.
New Plymouth’s Carol Chard was first in the stableford with 60 points. Urenui golfer Kevin Mancer (77-9-68:78-11-67-135) had best net and Tumahu’s Kurt Hikaka (40-35-75) was first stableford.
“Francis Douglas Memorial College finished 15th at Monday’s Nomads Secondary School Championships at the Hawke’s Bay Golf Club.
Played over two rounds, with the best three individual scores counting for the team score, they finished with a team total of 499, well behind the winners Christchurch Boys’ High School (421) to give the Canterbury school their first secondary schools title with last year’s winners Burnside High School (429) second.
It was always going to be a big ask for Francis Douglas playing against some much stronger and experienced schools but the boys will have gained some invaluable experience from the event and will be determined to return next year.
Josh Morris (76-72-148) was the stand out for the side to finish in a tie for 15th in the individual scores. The remaining scores were: Matthew Allen (85-83-168), Louis Baldock (97-97-194) Joshua Elder (94-89-183) Joshua Morris (76-72 148).
The four boys are also playing in a field of 153 at the New Zealand age group championships being played across the road at the Hastings Golf Club which began Wednesday.
They will be joined by a number of other Taranaki boys, including New Plymouth’s Max Shearer and Thomas Jansen. Tineka Kumeroa will be Taranaki’s lone representative at the girls age groups tournament being played at Hawke’s Bay Golf Club.
“New Plymouth Golf Club received a timely boost for next month’s Ngamotu Classic with the news that Pipe Tech has renewed its sponsorship for the Charles Tour event.
The support, along with the other major sponsor Augusta Capital, has ensured that New Zealand’s leading professionals will once again be heading to New Plymouth.
This year the tournament is being held a couple of weeks later to avoid a clash with the New Zealand Women’s Open, which will probably be a blessing for the green staff and volunteers at Ngamotu following this winter’s heavy rain that has put a real strain on being able to maintain the course.